Children’s Tokyo – Where to Take the Kids

Tokyo with children – a tiring and expensive experience, but with plenty of money and lots of energy you won’t be short of things to do.

Theme Parks and Attractions

Tokyo Disneyland

In terms of entertainment and relative value for money, number one on the list has to be Tokyo Disneyland. One day passport tickets are 6,200 yen for adults; 5,300 yen for 12 – 17 year olds and 4,100 yen for under 11’s. Kids aged 3 and under, get in for free!

“Hello Kitty” AT Sanrio Puroland

A must buy book for families visiting Tokyo

On the face of it rather bad value for money. But with Hello Kitty and friends performing a number of cheerful if not ecstatic shows, and a boat ride through the Sanrio Kingdom, who can argue that the experience isn’t Japanese? Very small children may find some of the attractions frightening, but anyone over the age of five should have a good time.

They have two types of tickets, “entrance” and “passport”. The passport ticket includes entrance fee and all attractions. The entrance ticket only includes entrance and the free shows. A discount ticket is available on their website.

A pamphlet in English is available from the information counter. Open: 10:00am to 6:00pm.

How to get there

Sanrio Puroland is situated in Tama Center, a satellite city to the west of Tokyo. From Shinjuku Station take the Keio Line Express or Special Express train (bound for Hashimoto) to Tama Center Station. Once at Tama Center Station leave via the central exit (the exit closest to the Odakyu line platforms), walk up the steps and continue until you reach a crossroads. At this crossroads turn left and Sanrio Puroland is then straight ahead.

Namja Town (unfortunately no English explanations inside)

Namja Town is a typical Japanese style theme attraction (incomprehensible for non- Japanese speakers) based on the adventures of a cat called Najavu. Throughout the day there are puppet and stage shows, interactive activities and games. Passport tickets cost 2,900 yen for adults and 2,300 yen for children. You can also just buy an entrance ticket and pay for attractions individually – adults 500 yen and children 300 yen. Open 10:00 am to 10:00 pm daily (last entrance at 9:00 pm).

How to get there

Namja Town is situated on the second floor of the World Import Mart Building (part of the Sunshine City Complex) in Ikebukuro (JR Yamanote Train Line).

Kidzania Tokyo

Kidzania is an educational and fun place for kids to experience what it is like to be an adult in a safe environment. Kids can “work” in various jobs and earn money to spend in the stores or on entertainment. It is aimed at kids from 3 – 15 years of age.

Hours

There are two shifts, one in the morning 1st 9:15am – 2:30pm and a second in the afternoon: 4:15pm – 8:30pm.

Getting there

Kidzania is located in Urban Dock LaLaport (3rd floor). Take the train to Toyosu station (Yurakucho or Yurikamome line) and from there it is approximately an 8 minute walk.

Department Store Play Centers

On the upper floors of many department stores, suitable for the under 5’s you’ll find small merry-go-rounds etc. The rides cost between 50 and100 yen a time. Odakyu Halc department store and Isetan, which are both in Shinjuku, have play areas on their roofs.

Game Centers

For older children, Sega Joypolis in Odaiba (Yurikamome monorail to Odaiba Kaihin Koen Station) is a fun theme park for game enthusiasts. General admission is 800 yen for adults and 300 yen for children.

They have a passport ticket which includes entrance and unlimited rides for 3,900 yen for adults and 2,900 for kids.

Cinemas

Tokyo Imax Theatre shows films in 3-D. Tokyo’s only IMAX cinema is located in 109 Cinemas Grandberry, in Machida. While Machida is still in Tokyo, it is about an hour train ride from Shinjuku on the Odakyu Line.

Aquarium (and Planaterium)

Sunshine International Aquarium and Planetarium are on the tenth floor of the World Import Mart building in Ikebukuro (part of the Sunshine City Complex). Tickets are bought in various combinations – see our section on “Ikebukuro” or the Sunshine City web site (Japanese only) for details. (Open 10:00am to 08:00pm).

Open Hours:

April 1st – October 31: 10:00-20:00
August 10 – August 18: 09:00-21:00
November 1 – March 31: 10:00-18:00

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

For a fantastic view of Tokyo and, on a clear day, Mount Fuji, go up to the 45th floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Building in Shinjuku.

Entrance is free.

Open: 09:30am – 05:30pm (07:30 pm on weekends); Closed: Mondays (or Tuesday if Monday was a public holiday), also December 29th -31st, and January 2nd to 3rd inclusive.

How to get there

Leave Shinjuku Station via the West Exit.

Bullet Trains (“Shinkansen”)

For a close-up look at the bulllet train, from the Shinkansen Ticket Office in Tokyo Station you can buy a special “niujyoken” platform ticket (pronounced: “new-jaw-ken”). The ticket costs 130 yen and allows you onto the platform for up to 2 hours.

Odaiba

Odaiba could be a good day out – first a ride on the Yurikamome Monorail then the world’s largest Ferris wheel (Daikanransha in Japanese). It is open from 10:00am to 10:00pm and until 11:00 on Fridays, Saturdays and Japanese public holidays. The price is 900 yen per person (over 4 years of age). The Yurikamome monorail starts at Shimbashi Station (JR Yamanote Line).

Museums and Showrooms

The Science Museum

The Science Museum in Kitano Maru Park has all kinds of interactive activities. Open 09:30 am – 04:50 pm. Adults: 700 yen, 12 to 18 year olds: 400 yen; under 12’s, over 4: 250 yen. The nearest station is Kudanshita (Hanzomon Line, Shinjuku Line and the Tozai subway line).

Railway Museum

At the Railway Museum, you can climb in and out of various engines and carriages and have a go at driving your own train through simulated Tokyo.

The museum is located outside of Tokyo in Saitama Prefecture. Take the train to Omiya station, then the Shuttle from JR Omiya Station and get off at “Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan Station”. The museum is a one-minute walk from “Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan Station”.

Admission is 1,000 yen for adults and 500 yen for elementary, junior high and high school students.

Further information is available on their website: www.railway-museum.jp. Follow the links to the English section on their site.

Shopping

Hakuhinkan Toy Park in Ginza (Chou Dori Avenue) and Kiddyland in Harajuku (Omotesando Dori Avenue) are the best toyshops in Tokyo. Harajuku is on the JR Yamanote Line. Ginza is on the Ginza Subway Line, the Marunouchi Subway Line and the Hibiya Subway Line.

Into the Countryside

Monkey Park – Mount Takao

Inside the Monkey Park the monkeys are roaming round free! (Very small children may be terrified). Open 10am to 4:00 pm. Adults: 400 yen. Children (4 years and under): 200 yen.

How to get there

Mount Takao is situated approximately 50 minutes to the west of Tokyo. From Shinjuku Station take the Keio Line Express Train to Takao San Guchi Station and then take either the cable car or the chair lift (chair lift/cable car 470 yen for adults and 230 yen for children one way).

More places and attractions for kids in Tokyo

Find hotels right here

8 Responses to Children’s Tokyo – Where to Take the Kids

Hi! If you can help me decide which area to book our hotel. Shinjuku or odaiba? Our 4 day trip will be the end of June with a 5 and 10 yr old girls. A full day to tokyo disney and Sanrio puroland is a must for us. Which area is better for us?

Odaiba is less busy than Shinjuku and a little more “kid friendly” with the large shopping areas. Shinjuku is probably more convenient though. Shinjuku station can be a little intimidating at first. You just need to check the exact exit you need to use to get to your destination. Shinjuku Park is worth visiting also. Enjoy!